Manually loaded terminal applicator

ABSTRACT

Wires for terminal application are sequentially loaded into slots of an elastomeric conveyor belt at a loading station, the loading being facilitated by a swingable arm which forces a wire into the bottom of a slot at the loading station, and thereafter the conveyor belt is advanced to bring into position a new slot at the loading station and subsequently thereto a terminal is applied to the leading end of a wire at a guarded terminal applying station. The swingable arm which facilitates the loading of the wires into the slots at the loading station is so designed that it will move with relatively little force during an initial part of its movement and with relatively greater force during the final part of its movement as it approaches the slots.

United States Patent [191 Wion [ MANUALLY LOADED TERMINAL APPLICATOR[75] Inventor: Donald Andrew Wion, Harrisburg,

[52] US. Cl 29/203 DS; 29/203 P [51] Int. Cl. HOlr 43/04; HOSk 13/04[58] Field of Search..... 29/203 D8, 203 DT, 203 D, 29/200 A, 203 P [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,804,603 4/1974 Wion 29/203 DS[451 May 20, 1975 Primary ExaminerThomas H. Eager Attorney, Agent, orFirmWilliam J. Keating, Esq.; J. L. Seitchik; F. W. Rating [57] ABSTRACTWires for terminal application are sequentially loaded into slots of anelastomeric conveyor belt at a loading station, the loading beingfacilitated by a swingable arm which forces a wire into the bottom of aslot at the loading station, and thereafter the conveyor belt isadvanced to bring into position a new slot at the loading station andsubsequently thereto a terminal is applied to the leading end of a wireat a guarded terminal applying station. The swingable arm whichfacilitates the loading of the wires into the slots at the loadingstation is so designed that it will move with relatively little forceduring an initial part of its movement and with relatively greater forceduring the final part of its movement as it approaches the slots.

14 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENIED HAYZO I975 SHEET 0F 5 zzwgmgnHAYZO ms 3. 883 .939

SHEET 50? 5 I20 ISGXELECTRONIC SOLENOID SWITCH |64\SENSOR PLATE i A I Dlmsz l CONVEYOR so I y a SOLENOID WIRE LOCATING PLATE I14 MANUALLYLOADED TERMINAL APPLICATOR FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relatesgenerally to a terminal applicator for crimping an electrical terminalon the end of a wire, and more particularly to a manual assist feedmechanism of type shown in the aforementioned copending application inwhich novel means are provided for facilitating the loading of wiresinto the slots of an elastomeric belt and also in which novel controland drive means are provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION US. Pat. No. 3,804,603 issued Apr. 16, 1974discloses an apparatus including a terminal applicator or crimpingpress, a loading zone, and a conveyor which transports wires from theloading zone to the terminal applicator, the conveyor constituting anendless belt having spaced apart wire receiving slots extendingtransversely thereon, the slots opening onto the outer periphery of thebelt and the belt being mounted for rotation on a pair of longitudinallyspaced sprockets and having an upper longitudinal run which extends fromthe loading zone or station to the terminal applying apparatus orstation. The foregoing patent application also discloses an extendedwire supporting surface which extends longitudinally away from theconveyor at the loading station, the wire supporting surface lying belowthe upper periphery of the run which extends from the loading station tothe terminal applicating station. The slots in the conveyor belt whichreceives the wires are open adjacent the wire supporting surface and thewires are sequentially disposed within the open slots. Subsequently theconveyor is caused to be moved towards the discharge station and aroller contacts a wire as the conveyor is being moved to force the wireinto the bottom of a slot. After the completion of the movement of theconveyor the terminal applicator is caused to be operated.

While the foregoing apparatus performs generally satisfactorily it hasbeen found in practice that it is not adaptable to many forms of presseswhich apply terminals as there is interference between the extended wiresupporting surface and the press. Furthermore, the prior art device wasdeveloped to run continously and it is desirable to add greater operatorflexibility to the operation of the machine.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the presentinvention to provide, in a manually loaded terminal applicator having aconveyor which extends between a loading station and a guarded terminalapplicator, improved means for positioning a wire into a slot of theconveyor belt and also which has differing available modes of operationto suit the convenience of the operator.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to providein apparatus of the aforesaid type, means to position a wire into a slotof an elastomeric conveyor belt including wire engaging means and movingmeans operable to move said wire engaging means from a first positionremote from the slot to a second position adjacent the bottom of theslot, the moving means as it moves from its first position to its secondposition initially moving at a relatively high rate of speed withrelatively little force and finally moving at a relatively low rate ofspeed with relatively high force.

It is another object of the present invention to pro vide novel controlmeans for an apparatus having a terminal applying means at a terminalapplying station, a loading station, a conveyor extending between thetwo stations, and reciprocal positioning means disposed at the loadingstation, the control means being operable to sequentially initiatemovement of the reciprocal positioning means, the conveyor, and theoperation of terminal applying means at the terminal applying station.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention areaccomplished by providing an apparatus having a terminal applicator at aterminal application station, a loading station remote from the terminalapplying station, a slotted conveyor which runs from the loading stationto the terminal applying station, and reciprocal wire positioning meansincluding a pivoted clamp arm having a wire engaging portion movablefrom a first position remote from the bottom of a conveyor slot at theloading station to a second position adjacent the bottom of the slot,and a pressure arm which slidably engages the clamp arm and is movablein such a manner that it initially causes the wire engaging portion ofthe clamp arm to move at a relatively high rate of speed with littleforce and finally to move, as the clamp arm approaches the bottom of theslot at a relatively low rate of speed with high force. The apparatusfurther includes control means which are operable to first initiatemovement of the clamp arm, and then the conveyor, and finally initiateoperation of the terminal applying means, the movement of the clamp armbeing initiated while the conveyor is at rest, the movement of theconveyor being initiated after the clamp arm has completed its movementtowards the second position, and the operation of the terminal applyingmeans being initiated after the conveyor has completed its movement topresent a new slot at the loading station, the operation of the terminalapplying means causing a terminal to be applied to the leading end ofthe wire. The control means includes a single revolution clutch whichcauses an output shaft to rotate one revolution, the output shaft beingcoupled with an intermittent drive to drive the conveyor belt during aportion of the movement of the output shaft, and the output shaft alsocarrying rotary cams which are contacted by micro switches, one of themicro switches being coupled to a rotary solenoid which initiatesmovement of the clamp arm prior to the movement of the conveyor and theother micro switch being coupled to the terminal applier to cause theterminal applier to be operated after the completion of the movement ofthe conveyor.

The foregoing and other objects and features will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art after a consideration of the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in whicha preferred form of this invention and various control systems areshown.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatusin which the principles of the present invention are incorporated.

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of a portion of the machine shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the structure shown in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are front sectional views of the wire positioning means,FIG. 4 shows the wire positioning means in a first position remote fromthe bottom of a conveyor slot at the loading station, and FIG. 5 showingthe wire positioning means in a second position adjacent the bottom ofthe conveyor slot.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematic illustrations of two of the various controlmodes of the apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 6 illustrating howthe machine is controlled by a sensor plate, and FIG. 7 illustrating howthe machine may be controlled through a foot switch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Turning to the drawings. there is illustrated inFIG. 1 the improved manually loaded terminal applicator of the presentinvention, which is indicated generally at 10 and which includes a press12 mounted on a bench or like suitable horizontal support 14, with theoperator normally sitting or standing in front of the press and facingthe same. that is facing a front wall 16 of a housing, indicatedgenerally at 18, the upper surface 20 of the housing 18 serving as asupport for wires after terminals have been applied thereto. Press 12 isoperatively coupled to a terminal applicator which may be of the typeshown in U.S. Pat. No. 3.343.398 issued to David Ronald Kerns. Sept. 26.1967. and assigned to the common assignee. the applicator being disposedbehind a rectangular shield 22.

The press 12 includes a reciprocal press ram 24 to which is operativelycoupled a depressible applicator die 26 (FIG. 2). the die cooperatingwith a fixed anvil 28 to crimp the barrel portion of a terminal to theleading end of a wire carried by conveyor 30. The area defined by theapplicator die 26. the anvil 28 and that portion of the conveyor whichis in line with these parts can be considered to be the terminalapplicator station.

The press 12 and the applicator including the applicator die 26 andanvil 28 form no part of the present invention and the operation of thesame may be evident by reference to previously mentioned Kerns U.S. Pat.No. 3.343.398. However, it should be noted that the press includes anelectric motor which rotates a fly wheel, the fly wheel in turn beingcoupled by means of a single revolution clutch to the press ram 24causing in turn cyclical operation of the applicator die 26 whichcompletes a crimping operation by crimping a U- shaped barrel of aterminal about the bared end of a wire. The single revolution clutch isenergized by electric control means. The terminals are supplied in stripform 32 to the applicator from a reel 34.

The conveyor 30 is an endless elastomeric belt having a plurality oftransverse longitudinally spaced slots 36 having an open upper end 38(FIG. 4) and a closed lower end 40. The lower side of the belt is formedwith cogs 42 which mesh with corresponding cogs or teeth 44 on right andleft hand sprockets 46, 48. Each of the sprockets 46, 48 is in turnmounted for rotary movement on a support 50. 52. respectively. which isin turn interconnected with the bench 14 for adjustable movement in amanner not material to the present invention. The slots 36 will be openas they pass over the sprockets 46, 48 and will be closed in either theupper run 54 or the lower run 56 between the two sprockets 46, 48. Theconveyor is more fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 3.804.603.

The loading station includes a member having an upper angled surface 58having slots 59. a downwardly extending portion of the member to theright of the surface 58 defining a V-shaped opening 60 between the righthand end of the upper angled surface member 58 and a slotted side plate62, the slotted side plate extending rearwardly from the left hand sideof the shield 22. Wires 64 which are to be conveyed to the terminalapplicator station are initially dropped through the slot 60 at whichtime they will lay on top of the open upper end 38 of a slot disposed atthe loading station as can best be seen in FIG. 4.

In order to insure that the wires are fully moved to the bottom of theslot 36 reciprocal means are provided to force the wires into the bottomof the slot. This structure includes a clamp arm 66 which is pivoted atone end 68 to the rear side of the shield 22 by means of a pivot pin 70.The other end of the clamp arm carries wire engaging means in the formof two spaced apart fingers 72. 74. The clamp arm is mounted formovement between a first position shown in FIG. 4 to a second positionshown in FIG. 5. The fingers 72, 74 are adapted to pass thrugh slots 76,78 in the slotted side plate 62 and the slots 59 in surface 59 as thearm 66 moves between the first and second positions. the forward end ofthe fingers extending downwardly and engaging the wire immediately toeither side of the con veyor belt 30 as the clamp arm completes itsmovement to the second position as can best be seen from FIGS. 3 and 5.

A pressure arm 80 is pivotally secured at one end 82 by means of a pivotpin 84 to the shield 22 and carries a roller 86 which is rotatablyjournalled by a pivot pin 88 at the other end of the arm. the roller 86being adapted to slidably engage the upper surface 90 of the clamp arm.The pressure arm initially defines an acute angle with the clamp armwhen in the first position and a greater angle when in the secondposition as can be seen from an inspection of FIGS. 4 and 5. As theangle approaches a right angle the clamp arm will be moved at a slowerrate but with higher force. The pressure arm 80 forms part of movingmeans for moving the clamp arm 66 from the position shown in FIG. 4 tothe position shown in FIG. 5, and the moving means further includes arock shaft 92. a rock arm 94, and a link 96, one end of the link beingsecured to the rock arm 94 by a ball joint 98. and the other end of thelink 96 being secured to an intermediate portion of the pressure arm bypivot means 100. The rock shaft 92 is caused to rock by means ofa rotarysolenoid 102 (shown in phantom in FIGS. 4 and 5). The rotary solenoid102 is mounted on the forward side of the shield 22 and its rock shaftextends through the shield as can best be seen from FIG. 3.

The drive to the conveyor 30 is from a variable speed electric motor 104which is mounted within the right hand end of the housing 18 as can bestbe seen from FIGS. 2 and 3. The output shaft of the motor 104 is in turnconnected to a right angle gear box I06 having an output shaft I08. Asprocket is mounted on the output shaft 108 and in turn drives a drivechain 112, the other end of which is trained over a sprocket 114, thesprocket 114 being interconnected with the input ofa single revolutionclutch assembly I I6 in a manner not material to the present invention.The single revolution clutch assembly II6 is provided with an outputshaft 118 which extends to either side of the assembly II6 as can bestbe seen from FIG. 3. A solenoid 120 (FIGS. 6 and 7) is employed forcontrolling the operation of a single revolution clutch (not shown)within the assembly II6 and it should be noted that if the soldnoid 120is moved to an operative position it will cause the single revolutionclutch to interconnect the power input provided by the sprocket 114 withthe output shaft 118 to cause the output shaft to rotate one revolution.

Intermittent drive means 122, which may be ofa Geneva type movement,interconnect the output shaft 118 of the single revolution clutchassembly with the conveyor belt 30. To this end, the forward side of theoutput shaft 118 is provided with a sprocket 124 and one end of a drivechain 126 is disposed about the sprocket 124, the other end of the drivechain 126 being disposed about a sprocket 128 mounted upon as inputshaft 130 to the intermittent drive means 122. The intermittent drivemeans 122 is also provided with an output shaft 132 which carries asprocket 134, there being a drive chain 136 which has a portion disposedover the sprocket 134 and another portion disposed over sprocket 138which is secured to shaft 140, the shaft 140 also being coupled to thedrive sprocket 46 of the conveyor 30. 1t should be noted that sprocket128 and 124 each have the same number of teeth and thus one revolutionof the shaft 118 will cause the input shaft 130 to also rotate onerevolution. The intermittent drive means is so selected that the outputshaft will be caused to rotate only during 90 of rotation of the inputshaft 130 and thus, the conveyor will only move during a portion of acomplete rotation of the shaft 118. The timing of the intermittent drivemeans could be such that the conveyor would rotate during any 90 ofrevolution of the output shaft 118 of the single revolution clutch.However, in the embodiment shown the conveyor is caused to be moved asthe output shaft 118 rotates from a 90 position to 180 position awayfrom its starting point.

Two rotary cams are also mounted on the output shaft 118, one rotary cam142 being mounted on the front side of the shaft 118 and the otherrotary cam 144 being mounted on the rear side of the shaft 118. A microswitch 146 is mounted on the forward side of the single revolutionclutch assembly 116 and has a cam follower 148 which engages the rotarycam 142, the cam 142, cam follower 148, and micro switch 146 so beingarranged that the switch will be closed when the rotary shaft hasrotated 30 degrees and will remain closed until it rotates 12() from itsstarting position, the switch then being open during the balance of therotzv tion of the output shaft 118. The switch 146 is in turninterconnected with the rotary solenoid 102 and causes the output shaft)2 of the solenoid to be rotated in one direction when the switch isclosed and to be rotated in an opposite direction when it is open. Thiswill cause the clamp arm 66 to be moved from its first position shown inFIG. 4 to its second position shown in FIG. 5 when the switch is closedand will cause the clamp arm 66 to return to its first position afterthe switch is opened upon completion of 120 of revolution of the outputshaft 118. In this connection it should be noted that a tension spring150 is provided to return the clamp arm 66 to its first position uponreverse movement of the output shaft 92 of the solenoid.

A second micro switch is mounted on the rear side of the singlerevolution clutch assembly 116 and also carries a cam follower (notshown) which is adapted to contact the rotary 144. These parts are soarranged that the switch 152 will be closed after the output shaft 118has rotated 200 and the switch will then be opened after the shaft isrotated approximately 300. The

switch 152 controls the operation of the press 12 through the electricalcontrol means of the press which energizes the single revolution clutchwithin the press.

As should be evident from the foregoing, the cam 142, 144, microswitches 146, 152 and the intermittent drive means 122 act as controlmeans which are operable to sequentially initiate movement of thereciprocal positioning means or clamp arm 66, the conveyor 30, and alsoto control the operation of the terminal applying means. The movement ofthe reciprocal positioning means is initiated after the output shaft 118of the single revolution clutch has rotated 30 and holds the clamp armdown in its lowered second position until after the shaft has rotated120. The movement of the conveyor is initiated after the reciprocalpositioning means has completed its movement towards the closed side ofthe slot 36 disposed at the loading station and thus, is initiated afterthe output shaft has been rotated The movement of the belt is completedafter the output shaft has rotated 180 and the parts are so timed that anew slot 36 will be presented at the loading station at this point.Thereafter, when the output shaft has now rotated 200, the operation ofthe terminal applicator will be initiated to apply terminals at theterminal applying station, and the press will complete its operationbefore the shaft 118 has completed one revolution.

The wires with the terminals affixed thereto are discharged onto thewire support 20. In this regard, it should be noted that the housing 18is provided with an upper sloping portion 154 that is provided with aslot 156 through which the discharge side of the conveyor belt passes.The leads which extend to either side of the belt will be stripped fromthe conveyor as the slots are opened as they pass over a sprocket 46 andwill slide down the inclined surface 154 to the wire support surface 20.In the event that the slot 36 of the belt 30 which is in alignment withthe terminal applying station does not carry a lead, there is provided amicro switch 158 carrying a sensor 160. If the sensor feels a wire theoperation of the press will be initiated. however, if no wire is presentthen the operation of the press will not be initiated.

During the operation of the apparatus the motor 104 will always be inoperation. However, a cycle of operation will not be initiated unlessthe single revolution clutch in the clutch assembly 116 is caused tointerconnect the input from the motor with the output shaft 118. Aspreviously noted a solenoid is used to cause the clutch to interconnectthe input with the output shaft. Three differing modes may be employedin the overall operation of this apparatus. According to a first modethe operator will insert a wire against a wire and sensor plate whichwill in turn initiate operation of the solenoid 120', according to asecond mode the operator inserts the wire against a wire end positioningplate and then actuates a foot switch which in turn controls thesolenoid to produce one complete cycle of the unit; and according to athird mode of operation the solenoid 120 is held in its closed positionat all times so that output shaft 118 runs constantly and the feed ofthe motor may be varied so that the overall feed rate may be adjusted tothe individual operator's ability with the wire insertion timed to thecycling of the machine.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates the first of these various modesofcausiug the apparatus to cycle and to this end it should be noted thatthe bared end 162 of a wire 64 is brought into contact with a sensorplate 164 which is located to the rear of the V-shaped opening as canbest be seen in FIG. 3. The sensor plate is in turn interconnected withelectronic switching apparatus 166 through an electrical conductor, 168,the electronic switching apparatus sensing the change in the capacitanceof the sensor plate when it is contacted by the bared wire 162 and inturn initiating the operation of the solenoid 120.

The second of the various modes of operation is illustrated in FIG. 7and to this end it should be noted that a foot switch 170 (also shown inFIG. 1) is provided, the operator merely stepping on the foot switchwhich is interconnected through an electrical lead 172 to the solenoid120 to initiate cycling of the apparatus. In this mode a wire locatingplate 174 is substituted for the sensor plate 164 and is positioned inthe same location as the sensor plate 164 as shown in FIG. 3. Thus theoperator would place the wire 64 into the V-shaped slot and bring thebared end 162 into contact with the wire locating plate 174 at whichtime the operator would then step upon the foot switch 170 to initiate acycle of operation.

In the final mode of operation the switch to the solenoid is alwaysclosed and the machine repetitively cycles at a rate comfortable to theoperator. Again the wire will be dropped into the V-shaped slot and thebared end 62 would be brought into contact with a wire locating plate174 before the conveyor movement is initiated.

The apparatus for conveying wires to a terminal application location ofa press may be used with differing presses and applicators such as endfeed or side feed applicators. As it may be used with differing pressesand applicators, adjustable support means 176 are provided foradjustably locating the various components on a bench 114. Theadjustable mounting means are not a material part of this invention andthus will not be described in detail.

While the preferred structure in which the present invention have beenincorporated is shown and described above, along with the variousalternative operating modes, it is to be understood that the inventionis not to be limited to the particular details, shown and describedabove, but that, in fact, widely differing means may be employed in thepractice of the broader aspects of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for applying terminals to the ends of wires includinga terminal applying station, a loading station, and a conveyor extendingbetween said loading station and said terminal applying station andhaving transverse longitudinally spaced slots adapted to receive wirestherein at said loading station, each slot being defined by elastomericmaterial and having an open side and an opposed closed side;

the combination therewith of means to position a wire into a slot atsaid loading station, said means comprising wire engaging means, and

moving means operable to move said wire engaging means from a firstposition remote from the closed side of a slot at said loading stationto a second position adjacent said closed side, said wire engaging meansforcing said wire into contact with the closed side of said slot as itmoves towards its second position.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 in which said wire engaging meansincludes a clamp arm pivoted adjacent one end and having an engagingportion adjacent the other end.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 in which said engaging portion ofthe clamp arm has two fingers spaced apart from each other a distanceslightly in excess of the length of a slot.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 in which said moving means as itmoves from its first position to its second position initially movessaid wire engaging means at a relatively high rate of speed withrelatively little force and finally moves the wire engaging means at arelatively low rate of speed with relatively high force.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 4 in which said wire engaging meansincludes a clamp arm pivoted adjacent one end and having a wire engagingportion adjacent the other end.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 5 in which said moving means furtherincludes a pressure arm pivoted at one end, the other end of saidpressure arm slidably engaging the clamp arm adjacent the pivoted end ofsaid clamp arm and originally defining an acute angle with the clamp armwhen the moving means is in its first position, said pressure armsliding towards an intermediate portion of the clamp arm and defining agreater angle with the clamp arm than the original acute angle as themoving means approaches its second position.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 6 in which said moving means furtherincludes a rock shaft, a rock arm having one end mounted upon saidshaft, and a link extending from the other end of said rock arm to anintermediate portion of said pressure arm.

8. An apparatus for applying terminals to the ends of wires comprising:

a terminal applying station including terminal applying means operableto apply a terminal upon the end of a wire;

a loading station;

an endless elastomeric conveyor having a run movable from said loadingstation to said terminal applying station and having transverselongitudinally spaced slots adapted to receive wires therein at saidloading station, each slot having an open side and an opposed closedside;

reciprocal positioning means operable to position a wire adjacent theclosed side of a slot at said loading station as said reciprocalpositioning means completes its movement towards the closed side of theslot; and control means operable to sequentially initiate movement ofthe reciprocal positioning means and the conveyor, and the operation ofthe terminal apply- -ing means, the movement of the reciprocalpositioning means being initiated while the conveyor is at rest, themovement of the conveyor being initiated after the reciprocalpositioning means has completed its movement towards the closed side ofa slot, and the operation of the terminal applying means being initiatedafter the conveyor has completed its movement to present a new slot atthe loading station, the operation of the'terminal applying meanscausing a terminal to be applied to the leading end of a wire.

9. The apparatus set forth in claim 8 in which said reciprocalpositioning means moves between a first position remote from the closedside of said slot to a second position adjacent said closed side, saidreciprocal positioning means initially moving at a relatively high rateof speed with relatively little force as movement away from said firstposition is initiated and said reciprocal positioning means moving witha relatively low rate of speed and relatively high force as movementtowards its second position is completed.

10. The apparatus set forth in claim 9 in which reciprocal positioningmeans includes a clamp arm pivoted adjacent one end and having a wireengaging portion adjacent the other end, a pressure arm pivoted at oneend, the other end of the pressure arm slidably engaging the clamp armadjacent the pivoted end of said clamp arm and originally defining an.acute angle when said reciprocal positioning means is in its firstposition, said pressure arm sliding towards an intermediate portion ofthe clamp arm and defining a greater angle with the clamp arm than theoriginal acute angle as the reciprocal positioning means approaches itssecond position.

11. The apparatus set forth in claim 8 in which said control meansincludes a foot switch.

12. The apparatus set forth in claim 8 in which said control meansincludes a sensor plate disposed to one side of said loading station.

13. The apparatus set forth in claim 8 in which said control meansincludes constantly running drive means, a single revolution clutchcoupled to said drive means and having an output shaft coupled to saidsingle revolution clutch, intermittent drive means coupled to saidoutput shaft and said conveyor and operable to move the conveyor onlyduring a portion of a revolution of the' output shaft, and further meanscoupled to said output shaft and operable to initiate operation of thereciprocal positioning means prior to the movement of the conveyor andto initiate operation of the terminal applying means after thecompletion of movement of the conveyor.

14. The apparatus setforth in claim 13 in which said further meanscoupled to said output shaft includes two rotary cams and two microswitches, and in which said reciprocal positioning means includes arotary solenoid coupled to one of said micro switches.

1. In an apparatus for applying terminals to the ends of wires includinga terminal applying station, a loading station, and a conveyor extendingbetween said loading station and said terminal applying station andhaving transverse longitudinally spaced slots adapted to receive wirestherein at said loading station, each slot being defined by elastomericmaterial and having an open side and an opposed closed side; thecombination therewith of means to position a wire into a slot at saidloading station, said means comprising wire engaging means, and movingmeans operable to move said wire engaging means from a first positionremote from the closed side of a slot at said loading station to asecond position adjacent said closed side, said wire engaging meansforcing said wire into contact with the closed side of said slot as itmoves towards its second position.
 2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1in which said wire engaging means includes a clamp arm pivoted adjacentone end and having an engaging portion adjacent the other end.
 3. Theapparatus set forth in claim 2 in which said engaging portion of theclamp arm has two fingers spaced apart from each other a distanceslightly in excess of the length of a slot.
 4. The apparatus set forthin claim 1 in which said moving means as it moves from its firstposition to its second position initially moves said wire engaging meansat a relatively high rate of speed with relatively little force andfinally moves the wire engaging means at a relatively low rate of speedwith relatively high force.
 5. The apparatus set forth in claim 4 inwhich said wire engaging means includes a clamp arm pivoted adjacent oneend and having a wire engaging portion adjacent the other end.
 6. Theapparatus set forth in claim 5 in which said moving means furtherincludes a pressure arm pivoted at one end, the other end of saidpressure arm slidably engaging the clamp arm adjacent the pivoted end ofsaid clamp arm and originally defining an acute angle with the clamp armwhen the moving means is in its first position, said pressure armsliding towards an intermediate portion of the clamp arm and defining agreater angle with the clamp arm than the original acute angle as themoving means approaches its second position.
 7. The apparatus set forthin claim 6 in which said moving means further includes a rock shaft, arock arm having one end mounted upon said shaft, and a link extendingfrom the other end of said rock arm to an intermediate portion of saidpressure arm.
 8. An apparatus for applying terminals to the ends ofwires comprising: a terminal applying station including terminalapplying means operable to apply a terminal upon the end of a wire; aloading station; an endless elastomeric conveyor having a run movablefrom said loading station to said terminal applying station and havingtransverse longitudinally spaced slots adapted to receive wires thereinat said loading station, each slot having an open side and an opposedclosed side; reciprocal positioning means operable to position a wireadjacent the closed side of a slot at said loading station as saidreciprocal positioning means completes its movement towards the closedside of the slot; and control means operable to sequentially initiatemovement of the reciprocal positioning means and the conveyor, and theoperation of the terminal applying means, the movement of the reciproCalpositioning means being initiated while the conveyor is at rest, themovement of the conveyor being initiated after the reciprocalpositioning means has completed its movement towards the closed side ofa slot, and the operation of the terminal applying means being initiatedafter the conveyor has completed its movement to present a new slot atthe loading station, the operation of the terminal applying meanscausing a terminal to be applied to the leading end of a wire.
 9. Theapparatus set forth in claim 8 in which said reciprocal positioningmeans moves between a first position remote from the closed side of saidslot to a second position adjacent said closed side, said reciprocalpositioning means initially moving at a relatively high rate of speedwith relatively little force as movement away from said first positionis initiated and said reciprocal positioning means moving with arelatively low rate of speed and relatively high force as movementtowards its second position is completed.
 10. The apparatus set forth inclaim 9 in which reciprocal positioning means includes a clamp armpivoted adjacent one end and having a wire engaging portion adjacent theother end, a pressure arm pivoted at one end, the other end of thepressure arm slidably engaging the clamp arm adjacent the pivoted end ofsaid clamp arm and originally defining an acute angle when saidreciprocal positioning means is in its first position, said pressure armsliding towards an intermediate portion of the clamp arm and defining agreater angle with the clamp arm than the original acute angle as thereciprocal positioning means approaches its second position.
 11. Theapparatus set forth in claim 8 in which said control means includes afoot switch.
 12. The apparatus set forth in claim 8 in which saidcontrol means includes a sensor plate disposed to one side of saidloading station.
 13. The apparatus set forth in claim 8 in which saidcontrol means includes constantly running drive means, a singlerevolution clutch coupled to said drive means and having an output shaftcoupled to said single revolution clutch, intermittent drive meanscoupled to said output shaft and said conveyor and operable to move theconveyor only during a portion of a revolution of the output shaft, andfurther means coupled to said output shaft and operable to initiateoperation of the reciprocal positioning means prior to the movement ofthe conveyor and to initiate operation of the terminal applying meansafter the completion of movement of the conveyor.
 14. The apparatus setforth in claim 13 in which said further means coupled to said outputshaft includes two rotary cams and two micro switches, and in which saidreciprocal positioning means includes a rotary solenoid coupled to oneof said micro switches.